By: Guillen H.B. No. 3776
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to deer identification and deer breeder operations.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter L, Chapter 43, Parks and Wildlife
Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 43.3561. IDENTIFICATION OF BREEDER DEER. (d) If a
deer breeder uses a durable identification tag that is a microchip
implanted under the deer's skin the department must determine a
deadline after birth of the breeder deer as early as the department
determines is feasible to assure the proper identification of the
breeder deer.
(e) The commission shall adopt rules requiring game wardens
and other personnel involved in checking breeder deer to use the
least disruptive method of performing the inspection required to
enforce department regulations and perform the inspection in
coordination with the permittee if the permittee is available at
the time of the inspection.
(f) The commission shall adopt rules allowing deer breeder
permittees whose records are challenged or found to be insufficient
during an inspection to exercise the option of providing DNA test
results at the permittee's expense to identify genetic
relationships of breeder deer after the department gives written
notice to the deer breeder permittee listing the probable cause for
the tests and which deer are included in that probable cause
designation.
(g) Results from a DNA test are not a defense against any
fines levied by the department for failure to keep proper records of
all deer in a deer breeder facility.
SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply to all
inspections, investigations or actions that take place on or after
the effective date of this Act. An inspection, investigation or
action taken before the effective date of this Act is governed by
the law as it existed immediately before the effective date of this
Act, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.